William p



(No Model.)

W.A F. NILES.

Machine for Molding Buttons or otherArticles.

10.234,800. f Patented lvm/.123, 1880.

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N,PETERS, FMOTO-LIYHOGRAPHER, wAsMlGroN4 n C Sterns UNITE Farma Ori-sica.

WILLIAM F. NILES, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WILFORD L. PALMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR NiOLDING BUTTONS OR OTHER ARTICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,800, dated November 23, 1880.

Application filed April 14, 1880.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. NiLns, of Jersey City, Vin the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Molding` Buttons or other Articles, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference bein g had to the accom pan yin g drawings, in which- Figure l represents a vertical cross-section of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of the die. Fig. 3* is a top view of the die-carriage. Fig. 4 is -a like view of the feeder.

Similar letters indica-te corresponding parts.

My invention relates to machines for molding buttons or other articles for use or ornament, and especially' that class of articles made 2o of blood, either alone or in conjunction with other materials.

It consistsin the combination of a verticallymovable die-carriage and its impelling mechanism with plungers (one or more) situated above the die-carriage, a stop to regulate the lower position of the plun gers, and a lever acting on the plungers to depress the same, so that in the ascent of the diecarriage the plungers are adapted to be displaced against the 3o action of the pressure-lever, and hence they bear on the die or the material to be molded with a yielding pressure, while in the descent of the die-carriage the plungers take a lower or normal position. The action of the press- 3 5 ure-lever on two plungers is equalized by a saddle which rests on the plungers, and on which the pressure-lever bears midway between the plungers. The die-carriage is adapted to be heated, for the purpose of obtaining the 4o proper action on the material to be molded,

and the same is equipped with laterally-projecting guideways, upon which rests the die, while a cooling` medium is situated laterally to the die-carriage, so that the die may be set in 4 5v and out on the carriage or guideways, and becomes heated in its inner position, while it is cooled in its outer position by being brought in contact with the cooling medium in the descent of the carriage. With the die-carriage 5o is also combined a latch adapted to lock the (No model.)

die thereupon preparatory and during the action of the plungers, and to release the same when such action ceases, and means for automaticallyl setting the die to an outer or lateral position upon its release. A suction-pipe is used to clean out the die.

It also consists in certain details of construction.

In the drawings, the letter A designates the machine-frame, consisting of standards joined by suitable cross-pieces; and B, the die-carriage. In this example I have shown the diecarriage and its concomitants duplicated, and a single shaft, C, for driving the same; butit is obvious that thenumber of carriages is variable. From the bottom of the die-carriageB extend vertical rods a, which slide in a crosspiece, A', of the machine-frame, and in a bracket, A2, attached to or cast solid with such cross-piece, whereby the carriage is guided in a vertical plane.

Y For the purpose of obtaining the required motions of the die-carriage B, I make use of au impelling mechanism consisting of a cam, D, which is mounted on the'shaft C, and bears on the bottom of the carriage, thelatter being preferably shod with steel or other hard substance at the point where the cam bears thereon, as at b, in order to reduce the wear on the carriage. This cam D has a swell of such character that in the revolutions of the cam it raises the carriage B and retains the same in an upper position a sufficient length of time to allow or produce the proper action of the plungers, presently described, and at one end of such swell are shoulders c, one on each side of the cam, while on the bottom of the diecarriage are arms d, carrying studs c, which are in the path of the cam-shoulders, so that as the cam revolves the carriage is drawn to a lower position by the engagement of the cam-shoulders with the studded arms.

The letter E designates the plungers or yare situated above the die-carriage B, where they slide in a crossiiece A3 ofthe machineframe, and they are respectivelyprovided with a shoulder, f, which strikes such cross-piece,when the plun gers are permitted to descend, so that the cross-piece constitutes a stop to determine the lower position of the plun gers. I usually arrange the plungers E in pairs, and combine therewith a lever, F, to depress the same. This lever F has its fulcrum on a pivot, g, bearing on a cross-piece, A4, of the machineframe, and in this example it obtains its pressure from a weighted lever, G, whose fulcrum is on a bracket, A5, attached to the crosspieee A4, and which connects with the pressure-lever by means of a rod, h.

On the top of the die-carriage B is a die, H, whose cavities or. cells occupyT corresponding positions to the plun gers E. When the de-carriage B ascends with the die upon it the plungers E enter the cells of the die, so as to compress and mold the material that may be supplied thereto, while they are at the same time displaced against the action of the pressurelever F, thus bearing upon the material with a yielding pressure. The result of this operation is, that the parts of the machine are not liable to be broken if unequal quantities of material are supplied to the different cells of the die.

The letter I designates a saddle combined with the plungers E, for the purpose of equalizing the pressure of the lever F thereon. This saddle rests on the upper ends ofthe plun gers E, while the pressure-lever F bears on it midway between the plungers, as clearly shown 'in Fig. l.

The die-carriage B is constructed with a heating-chamber, B, and is furnished with steam inlet and outlet pipes, ij, to such chamber, so that it is capable of being heated. Upon the carriage B are guideways L, which project therefrom in a lateral direction, as shown, Figs. land 3*, and which are adapted to receive the die H.

Laterally to the die-carriage B-namely, on the corresponding side thereof` to the project ing port-ion of the guideways c-is situated a cooling medium, consisting, in this example, of a water-tank, J, which is at such a level that in the lower position of the die-carriage B the guideways take a position upon the tank. In the upper position of the die-carriage B, and during the action of the plungers E, the dieH is locked in an inner or working position thereon by means of a latch, K, while, when such action ceases and the die-carriage moves to a lower position, the die is released by the latch, and is automatically set to an outer or lateral position upon the guideways 7c by the action of a weight, L, or other suitable means. By this arrangement the die H is alternately heated by the carriage B and cooled by the water-tank J, and the proper action thereof is obtained upon the material to be molded when such material is or contains blood.

The latch K is combined with a vertical slide, n, which works in the cross-piece A3 and carries a stop-pin, o, to regulate its lower position, and in the ascent of the die-carriage B inward a sufficient distance, while in the descent of the carriage the latch releases the die by remaining stationary.

The weight L connects with the die H by a cord or chain, p, running over a pulley, q. It acts upon the die by drawing the same outward to the end ofthe guideways 7., when it is set free.

It is obvious that the die H may` be set to and held in its positions on the die-carriage by hand, and in that ease thelatch K and weight L may be dispensed with.

The water-tank J communicates with a supply-channel, N, having an inlet-pipe, s, and between the two is interposed a float-valve, r, which is closed under normal conditions, so as to cut off the supply of water. The stem of the float-valve r rises above the top edge of the water-tank J, and when the die-carriage B descends, thereby bringing the diev H upon the tank, the die is brought to bear on the valve-stem, so as to depress the same, and the valve is opened. ln this manner fresh water is supplied to the tank JintermittinglyW that is to say, at each descent of the die-carriage-and the water in the tank is kept cold. The water discharges from the tank J by overflowing over the edge thereof, so that the tank is always full to the edge, and the overflowing water is received in a trough, O, whence it is carried oft' by a pipe, t.

In Figs. et and 5 I have illustrated a feeder whereby the die H may be supplied with the material to be molded. This feeder consists of a box, P, which is provided with a series of bottom nipples, a, adapted to the cells of the die, and with a wire net, e, or the like upon its bottom, so that if the material is placed therein and agitated it is sifted and discharges therefrom through the nipples.

When the die H has been emptied, and previous to refilling the same, its cells are cleaned or divested of any particles of material that may have remained therein by a suction pipe or hose, Q, which is so arranged that the end thereof may be held or swept over the cells of the die, and which is connected to a main pipe, B, in which a partial vacuum is maintained by an exhaust-fan or other similar device.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a plunger, E, having a socket in its lower end, in which is secured a face part or former, E', a set-screw, ai, being used for this purpose. The former E may thus be changed at will, and it follows that the plunger is adapted to mold articles of different shapes or sizes.

On the dic-carriage B are guideways 7c', which are supplemental to and project in an opposite direction to the ways 7c, and on'these supplemental ways is fitted a pan, S, which is connected to the die H by a coupling-pin or other similar device. When the die H moves to its outer position the pan S takes its place under the plungers E, and hence, if the buttons or other articles molded should adhere to the latch engages the die, if the latter is slid the plungers and drop therefrom in the de- IOO IIO

scent ot' the die-carriage they are caught in the pan, while the pan also serves to receive any particles of material that may adhere to and drop from the plungers, thus keeping the face of the die-carriage free of obstructions.

The cross-piece A3, forming the guide for the plungers E, is constructed with a steamspace for heating the plungers.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by `Letters Patent, is-

l. In a machine for molding buttons or other articles, the combination of a vertically-movable die-carriage and its impellin g mechanism with plungers (one or more) situated above the die-carriage, a stop to regulate the lower position of the plungers, and a pressure-lever acting on the plungers, the whole constructed and adapted to operate substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a machine for molding buttons or other articles, the combination of a vertically-movable die-carriage and its impelling mechanism with two plungers situated above the die-carriage, a stop to regulate the lower position of the plungers, a saddle resting on the plun gers, and a pressure-lever bearing on the saddle midway between the two plungers, the whole constructed and adapted to operate substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the plunger E, of a vertically-movable die-carriage adapted to be heated, and its impelling` mechanism, laterally-projecting guideways,and a cooling medium, situated laterally to the die-carriage, the whole constructed and adapted to operate substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the plungers E, of a vertically-movable die-carriage adapted to be heated, and its impelling mechanism, laterally-projecting guideways upon the die-carriage, a die resting on the guideways, a cooling medium situated laterally to the die-carriage, a latch adapted to lock the die upon the carriage preparatory and during the action of the plungers, and to release the same when such action ceases, and means for automatically setting the die to an outer or lateral position upon its release, the whole constructed and adapted to operate substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the die-carriageB and die H, of the suction-pipe I, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. The combination of a vertically-movable die-carriage having the studded arms d with a driving-cam having the shoulders c to engage the studded arms, thereby insuring the descent of the carriage, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the plungers E, saddle I, and pressure-lever F, of the weighted lever G, connecting with the pressure-lever, substantially as and for the purpose described.

S. The combination, with the die-carriageB and die H, of the latch K, latch-slide n, and weight L, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. The combination, with the die-carriageB and die, of the watertank J, water-supply channel N, and iloat-valve r, arranged to be openedintermittingly by the action of the die, substantially as and for the purpose described.

l0. The combination, with the die-carriage B, the die H, and its guideways 7c, of the pan S and guideways 7c', substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 28th day of January, 1880.

WILLIAM F. NILES. Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, CHAs. WAHLnRs. 

